Pre-18 voter registration in South Dakota
In South Dakota 12,272 people turn 18 every year.
South Dakotans can pre-register before turning 18.
pre-register before turning To register to vote in South Dakota, you must be: 18 by Nov 3rd, 2026. (18 by the next primary or general election).
That means most eligible seniors and many juniors in your high school can register to vote today and vote at 18.
High school students can help one another get ready to vote.
Next Steps!
How to Register to Vote in South Dakota
Upcoming Statewide or Federal Elections:
- Jul 28th, 2026 - South Dakota Republican Primary Runoff Election (Register by Jul 13th, 2026 by mail)
- Nov 3rd, 2026 - South Dakota General Election (Register by Oct 19th, 2026 by mail)
Useful Links:
- Registration Form - Download the paper registration form for South Dakota.
- Registration Status - Check if you are already registered, your polling place, and more from your state’s voter registration website.
- Fair Elections Center - Learn about conducting a registration drive in South Dakota.
- Vote 411 - A nonpartisan resource to help you register, preview your ballot, and find key election information from the League of Women Voters.
- VoteRiders - Find out what forms of ID you can use to register and vote, and get help getting a valid form of ID.
Full Registration Details
By Mail: ID Requirements
To submit a voter registration application by mail in South Dakota, you must provide your current South Dakota driver's license number OR non-driver ID number, if you have one. If you do not have either of these ID numbers, you must instead provide the last four digits of your Social Security number.
If you have not been issued any of these ID numbers, visit your county auditor's office to complete your voter registration and sign a document verifying you do not have these types of ID.
By Mail: Eligibility Requirements
To register in South Dakota you must:
be a United States citizen (proof of citizenship required to vote in non-federal races)
be a resident of South Dakota for at least thirty days prior to the next election
be at least 18 years old on or before the next election
not have been judged mentally incompetent by a court
not be currently serving a sentence for a felony conviction which included imprisonment, served or suspended, in an adult penitentiary system
You can find more information on voting rights restoration here.
By Mail: Citizen Instructions
If you are registering to vote for the first time in South Dakota, you must include proof of citizenship with your registration application or you will be registered as a “federal voter.” If you are designated as a federal voter, you may only vote in elections for president, US senator, and US representative. To be eligible to vote in all other races, you are required to submit an acceptable form of identification with your registration form. Proof of citizenship can include: South Dakota driver’s license or non-driver ID issued on or after July 1, 2025, which indicates you have demonstrated US citizenship; valid driver’s license or non-driver ID issued by any US state or territory that indicates you have demonstrated US citizenship; or tribal ID
You can also provide a COPY of any of the following: birth certificate; US passport pages with identity information and passport number; consular report issued by the US Department of State indicating you were born abroad; certificate of naturalization; any other type of acceptable documentary evidence of citizenship permitted under 42 C.F.R. § 436.407
By Mail: New Voter Instructions
If you are registering to vote for the first time in your county and submit your registration application by mail, federal law requires you to provide a COPY of proof of identification with your application OR show acceptable documentation when you vote. Acceptable forms of identification include a current and valid photo ID OR a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or government document that shows your name and address. More information about these requirements is available on the National Voter Registration Form.
More information here.
South Dakota High School Educators!!!
Support your students’ voter registration effort with our free toolkit.
About this information
This page presents a curated compilation of voting and election information, specifically geared toward high school students, their families, and educators.
Information about deadlines and voting laws is retrieved via the Democracy Works Elections API and was last retrieved on Jul 6th, 2026; the API compiles election guidance from official government sources and other vetted data providers, and details may change over time. Information concerning requirements for high schools is based on The Civics Center’s analysis of State Requirements for High School Voter Registration and was last updated on Jun 22nd, 2026.
Information about youth turning 18 each year is from the U.S. Census, and information on the number of 18-year-olds who have not yet registered is based on applying TCC’s analysis of Census data and state voter files. We also provide links to trusted resources, including VoteRiders (for voter ID information) and Fair Elections Center (for information about laws governing voter registration drives).
These pages are offered for guidance only and are not intended as legal advice. Please consult state election officials or an attorney if you have questions about any particular situation. We hope you find this useful. To cite our resources and original research, please provide links and/or cite The Civics Center.
© 2026 The Civics Center
